Systems And Methods For Reducing Power Consumption In Wireless Devices

ABSTRACT

A first device including a controller and a transmitter. The controller generates a communication schedule based on a profile. The communication schedule specifies a first duration to transfer data between the first device and a second device using a wireless protocol. The profile indicates (i) a start time, (ii) a duration, and (iii) a periodicity of communication between the first device and the second device using the wireless protocol. The transmitter transmits the communication schedule via a message from the first device to the second device using the wireless protocol. The message is a pre-defined message specified by the wireless protocol. The pre-defined message is dedicated to communicate information about interference present in an operating environment of the first device and the second device.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/061,836,filed on Oct. 24, 2013, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/491,167 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,570,925), filed onJun. 24, 2009, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional ApplicationNo. 61/079,630, filed on Jul. 10, 2008. The entire disclosures of theapplications referenced above are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to wireless communication, and inparticular, to systems and methods for reducing power consumption inwireless devices.

Wireless technology provides portable connectivity between electronicdevices. Standard wireless communication protocols, such as Bluetooth,have streamlined wireless communications between electronic devices. Forexample, computer mice (and other pointing devices) have been developedusing Bluetooth to provide wireless communication over a few meters of alocal device (e.g. laptop computer). Additionally, Bluetooth may includeprofiles to describe, amongst other things, the uses and/or requirementsof remote devices (e.g. pointing devices). This standardization hasallowed for the development of many low data rate devices.

Bluetooth has been historically limited to a few Mbits/second in datarate. High data rate applications, such as audio or video streaming, forexample, may not be supported by the historical capability of Bluetooth.On the other hand, IEEE (Institute of Electrical and ElectronicsEngineers) 802.11 protocols may have a data rates up to 54 Mbits/secondor higher, and may be able to support a wider number of applicationsrequiring more bandwidth. Unfortunately, IEEE 802.11 has beenimplemented primarily for full scale networking which may requiresophisticated connection setup and may consume more power than aBluetooth application.

Bluetooth AMP (“BT AMP”) mates the standardization of Bluetooth with thebandwidth of IEEE 802.11. BT AMP refers to a Bluetooth protocol thatuses an alternate media access controller (“MAC”) and physical layer(“PHY”). BT AMP initiates the link between two devices using theBluetooth protocol, and may use an IEEE 802.11 protocol, for example, totransport large amounts of data, such as audio or video. Above thetransport level (in the OSI model) the application may use Bluetoothprofiles. Bluetooth simplifies the discovery and setup of servicesbetween devices and IEEE 802.11 increases the data rate.

However, many wireless devices are battery operated. For example, fromcell phones and personal digital assistants (“PDAs”) to wirelessspeakers and mice, reducing power consumption in wireless devicesremains an ongoing challenge.

Thus, it would be desirable to provide reduce power consumption inwireless communications.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods forreducing power consumption in wireless devices. In one embodiment, thepresent invention includes a method for reducing power consumption inwireless devices comprising establishing a wireless link between a localdevice and a remote device, sending a message to the remote deviceacross the wireless link, the message specifying a communicationschedule, and communicating between the local device and the remotedevice according to the communication schedule. The communicationschedule specifies time periods in which data is not transferred betweenthe local device and the remote device, and during the time periods atleast one of the local device or the remote device enters a low powermode.

In one embodiment, the message is sent across the wireless link using afirst wireless protocol and communicating between the local device andthe remote device is performed using a second wireless protocol.

In one embodiment, the first wireless protocol is Bluetooth and thesecond wireless protocol is an IEEE 802.11 protocol.

In one embodiment, the local device and the remote device communicateusing a BT AMP protocol.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises determining thecommunication schedule from a Bluetooth profile on the local device.

In one embodiment, the Bluetooth profile indicates a start time, aduration, and a periodicity for communicating between the local deviceand the remote device.

In one embodiment, the message is a pre-existing message of a wirelessprotocol. In one embodiment, the wireless protocol is Bluetooth. Inanother embodiment, the wireless protocol is an IEEE 802.11 protocol.

In one embodiment, the pre-existing message is an interference message.

In one embodiment, the message is an activity report, and wherein thecommunication schedule is sent in the activity report.

In one embodiment, communicating includes transferring audio data to theremote device based on the communication schedule, and the communicationschedule transfers sufficient audio data to the remote device to streama corresponding audio signal without interruption.

In one embodiment, during the time periods, the local device enters alow power mode and the remote device does not enter a low power mode.Additionally, in another embodiment, the method further includesperiodically sending a request-to-send message from the remote device tothe local device, wherein the local device responds to therequest-to-send message with a clear-to-send message if therequest-to-send message is received by the local device when the localdevice is not in low power mode.

In one embodiment, during the time periods, the remote device enters alow power mode.

In another embodiment, the present invention includes an electronicdevice comprising a wireless transmitter, a wireless receiver, and acontroller configured to use the wireless transmitter and the wirelessreceiver to establish a wireless link between the electronic device anda remote device to provide communication with the first remote device,and send a message to the remote device across the wireless link, themessage specifying a communication schedule that specifies time periodsin which data is not transferred between the electronic device and theremote device. Communication occurs in accordance with the communicationschedule, and during the time periods at least one of the electronicdevice or the remote device enters a low power mode.

In one embodiment, the message is sent across the wireless link using anactivity report in a Bluetooth protocol and at least a portion of thecommunication between the electronic device and the remote device isperformed using an IEEE 802.11 protocol, and the time periods occur whenthe communication is performed using the IEEE 802.11 protocol.

In one embodiment, the electronic device and the remote devicecommunicate using a BT AMP protocol.

In one embodiment, the communication schedule is determined from aBluetooth profile on the electronic device, and wherein the Bluetoothprofile indicates a start time, a duration, and a periodicity forcommunicating between the electronic device and the remote device.

In another embodiment, the present invention includes wireless systemusing the methods and electronic devices described herein.

The following detailed description and accompanying drawings provide abetter understanding of the nature and advantages of the presentinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a wireless system according to one embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example wireless system according to anotherembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a method of reducing power consumption in wirelessdevices according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates another method of reducing power consumption inwireless devices according to one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Described herein are systems and methods for reducing power consumptionin wireless devices. In the following description, for purposes ofexplanation, numerous examples and specific details are set forth inorder to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. Itwill be evident, however, to one skilled in the art that the presentinvention as defined by the claims may include some or all of thefeatures in these examples alone or in combination with other featuresdescribed below, and may further include modifications and equivalentsof the features and concepts described herein.

FIG. 1 illustrates a wireless system 100 according to one embodiment ofthe present invention. Wireless system 100 includes a wireless localdevice 101 and a wireless remote device 102. Local device 101 includescontroller 103 coupled to transmitter 104 and receiver 105. Controller103 is coupled to memory 106. Remote device 102 includes controller 111coupled to transmitter 112 and receiver 113. Controller 111 is coupledto memory 114. A wireless link 115 is established between local device101 and remote device 102 using antennas 117-118, controller 103,controller 111, transmitter 104, transmitter 112, receiver 105, receiver113, memory 106, and memory 114. The components of local device 101 andremote device 102 shown in FIG. 1 may be illustrative of wirelesssystems including hardware and software for implementing a variety ofwireless protocols such as a Bluetooth protocol, an 802.11 protocol, ora combination of wireless protocols such as BT AMP, for example.

Features and advantages of the present invention include sending amessage from the local device 101 to the remote device 103 across thewireless link 115 to reduce power consumption in either or both of thedevices. In one embodiment, the message may specify a communicationschedule. The communication schedule, in turn, may specify the timing oftransmissions. For example, a communication schedule may specify timeperiods during which data is, and is not, transferred between the localdevice 101 and the remote device 102. Accordingly, if the local device101 and the remote device 102 communication (e.g., transfer data)according the communication schedule, either or both devices may enter alow power state during the time periods when data is not beingtransferred.

An example of a wireless system 100 shown in FIG. 1 may be a BT AMPsystem, for example. A BT AMP system 100 may include a Bluetooth MAC/PHYand an 802.11 MAC/PHY, which are illustrated generally as wirelesscontrollers, transmitters, and receivers in FIG. 1, but are understoodby those skilled in the art to include specific hardware and software.For instance, in BT AMP system 100 the memory 106 may include a program107 representing an application layer, for example. In one embodiment ofthe present invention, program 107 may include one or more Bluetoothprofiles 108 and scheduler 109. A Bluetooth profile is a wirelessinterface specification for Bluetooth-based communication betweendevices. A Bluetooth profile may reside at the application layer on topof BT AMP MAC and PHY. Different profiles 108 may be used forestablishing wireless communications with different types of Bluetoothenabled remote devices, and may include information for specifying howdata is transferred between the local device 101 and the remote device102. For example, if the remote device 102 is an audio/video device,profile 108 may be an Audio Video Remote Control Profile (“AVRCP”). Inone embodiment, the profile 108 may indicate the data rate required forremote device 102 and/or what transmission time intervals may be usedfor communicating between local device 101 and remote device 102. Theprofile 108 may also indicate, amongst other things, a start time,duration, and periodicity of the communication between local device 101and remote device 102, for example. In this example, the scheduler 109may use information from the profile 108 to generate a communicationschedule. For example, scheduler 109 may determine transmissionintervals from the profile 108 to generate a communication schedule toinstruct the remote device 102 when data transmissions are to occur.Communication schedules may be sent from local device 101 to remotedevice 102 to control power usage in either or both devices.Accordingly, either, or both, local device 101 and remote device 102 mayinclude low power modes 110 and 116, respectively, for powering down oneor more portions of either device during time periods when data is notbeing transferred as determined by the profile 108, for example.

In one embodiment, the communication schedule may be transmitted using apre-existing message specified by the wireless protocol being used forthe wireless link 115. For example, in some wireless protocols, specificmessages are used to communicate interference which may be present inthe operating environment of the local device 101 and the remote device102. For example, the Bluetooth protocol includes activity reportingwhich allows wireless communication to take into account certain typesof interference. Accordingly, in one embodiment, the message forcarrying the communication schedule is an activity report of theBluetooth protocol. For example, the message specifying thecommunication schedule may be sent in an activity report of the BT AMPprotocol. As another example, IEEE 802.11v includes co-locatedinterference messaging to prevent simultaneous transmission of multipleradios on a single system. In this case, IEEE 802.11v includes aco-located interference message that may be sent from local device 101to remote device 102 to identify time periods in which transmissions arenot exchanged between local device 101 and remote device 102 so thatmultiple radios in the same device do not interfere with each other(e.g., if a BT transmission is occurring in a BT AMP system, the 802.11transmission may be shut down so the two protocols do not interfere witheach other). Accordingly, another embodiment of the present inventionincludes sending a communication schedule in an interference message ofan 802.11 protocol. In other wireless protocols, other pre-existingmessages, such as interference messages, may be used for sendingcommunication schedules.

Communication schedules may be used to control power in the local device101 and remote device 102. For example, remote device 102 may have arequirement of receiving 100 kbits every 100 ms and a capability toreceive data at a rate of 20 Mbits/second. The communication schedulemay schedule a 5 ms interval to transfer 100 kbits every 100 ms period.During the other 95 ms of time, local device 101 may utilize a low powermode 110 and shut down one or more portions of electronics in localdevice 101 to save power (e.g., transmitter 104 and receiver 105 may beturned off). Similarly, during the other 95 ms of time, one or moreportions of electronics in remote device 102 (e.g., transmitter 112 andreceiver 113) may be disabled using low power mode 116 to save power,for example. Accordingly, scheduling time for communications allowseither, or both, local device 101 and remote device 102 to schedule timeperiods in which one or more portions of the local device 101 and remotedevice 102 may be turned off in order to save power.

In some applications, some remote devices may not be capable ofscheduling communications as specified in the communication schedule.Accordingly, in one embodiment, remote device 102 may periodically senda request-to-send message to local device 101. The request-to-sendmessage may indicate that remote device 102 is ready to receive datafrom local device 101, for example. Local device 101 may betransitioning in and out of a low power mode based on the communicationschedule. Accordingly, local device 101 may respond to therequest-to-send message from the remote device 102 with a clear-to-sendmessage if the request-to-send message is received by local device 101when local device 101 is not in low power mode. A clear-to-send messagemay indicate that local device 101 has received the request-to-sendmessage. If remote device 102 receives the clear-to-send message, it mayprepare itself to receive data from local device 101. After sending theclear-to-send message, and possibly after an additional wait time, localdevice 101 may start sending data, for example.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example wireless system 200 according to anotherembodiment of the invention. Wireless system 200 includes music player201, audio amplifier 202, and audio amplifier 203. In this exampleapplication, audio amplifiers 202-203 are remote wireless devices. Musicplayer 201 transmits music data 224 to audio amplifiers 201-202 usingthe BT AMP protocol, and music player 201 and/or audio amplifiers201-202 may enter low power modes to reduce power consumption.

Music player 201 includes controller 103, memory 106, and antenna 117which are utilized to communicate with the remote wireless devices(e.g., audio amplifiers 202-203). In this embodiment, music player 201utilizes BT AMP transceiver 205 to transmit and receive signals fromaudio amplifiers 202-203. Music player 201 utilizes scheduler 109 togenerate communication schedules for the transmission of audio data.Scheduler 109 may use one or more profiles 108 (e.g., AVRCP) for sendingaudio data to audio amplifiers 202-203 using the BT AMP protocol. Timer221-223 may be time synchronization field (“TSF”) timers that maintainthe timing for the communication schedules. CODEC 204 may be used togenerate the audio data to be sent to audio amplifiers 202-203, forexample.

Audio amplifiers 202-203 may be set up to provide audio sound fromspeakers 212 and 217. Audio amplifiers 202-203 may be coupled to receivepower from a residential AC power source or may be battery powered.Audio amplifier 202 includes controller 209 coupled to timer 222,transceiver 208, memory 210, and speaker driver 211. Transceiver 208 andantenna 218 receive and transmit data from the local device (e.g., musicplayer 201). Transceiver 208 is coupled to exchange data with controller209. Controller 209 may store received data in memory 210. The size ofmemory 210 may be dictated by the profile 108 corresponding to audioamplifier 202. Controller 209 provides data to speaker driver 211 whichin turn drives speaker 212 to produce the desired sound.

Audio amplifier 203 may be similar to audio amplifier 202. Antenna 219,transceiver 213, controller 214, memory 215, speaker driver 216, speaker217, and timer 223 in audio amplifier 203 may operate the same ascorresponding components in audio amplifier 202. Audio amplifier 203 maybe designated as a right channel and audio amplifier 202 may bedesignated as a left channel of a stereo output. Designations may bestored in memories 210 and 215 to indicate the corresponding channels.Configuration designators, such as jumpers or toggle switches, may alsobe used to designate the channel of the stereo output.

Music player 201 may be equipped with BT AMP and utilize the activityreporting of the protocol in order to schedule the transmission of audiodata to audio amplifier 202 and audio amplifier 203. Accordingly, a BTAMP link 206 is established between music player 201 and audio amplifier202, and a BT AMP link 207 is established between music player 201 andaudio amplifier 203. The Bluetooth protocol may be used to establish theconnection between music player 201 and each audio amplifier 202 and203. Thereafter, an IEEE 802.11 may be used to send data from the musicplayer 201 to each audio amplifier 202 and 203.

In this embodiment, controller 103 may utilize scheduler 109 to create acommunication schedules based on one or more profiles 108. Thecommunication schedules may be sent in a separate activity report toeach of the audio amplifiers 202-203. For example, profiles 108 mayindicate that a rate of 384 kbits/second is required so that stereooutput from speakers 212 and 217 continues uninterrupted. In a 100 mstime period, 38.4 kbits may be required for each of the speakers 212 and217 to achieve a continuous audio signal. IEEE 802.11g may be used atthe transport level to transmit data at a rate of 20 Mbits/second. Asample calculation is shown below.

Audio  data  rate  (each  channel) = 384  kbits/secondD = amount  of  audio  data  for  100  ms  period = 38.4  kbitsR_(t) = Transmission  rate = 20  Mbits/secondT = time  to  transmit$T = {\frac{D}{R_{t}} = {\frac{38.4\mspace{14mu} {kbits}}{20\mspace{14mu} {Mbits}\text{/}\sec} = {1.92\mspace{14mu} {ms}}}}$

The scheduler 109 may generate a communication schedule specifying 2 msto transmit left channel data to audio amplifier 202 and 2 ms totransmit right channel data to audio amplifier 203, and 96 ms of powersave time. The communication schedule may be sent in an activity reportto each amplifier. The parameters of the message are:

-   1. Start time: The time when the interference starts based on a    local timer-   2. Duration: The duration active traffic can last for-   3. Periodicity: The periodicity of the traffic.    In this case, the information in the activity report for each    amplifier may be as follows.

Activity Report Message for Audio Amplifier 202

1) Start time: at time point 0

2) Duration of transmission: 2 ms

3) Periodicity: every 100 ms

Activity Report Message for Audio Amplifier 203

1) Start time: at time point 2 ms

2) Duration of transmission: 2 ms

3) Periodicity: every 100 ms

If more audio amplifiers are added to system 200, additionaltransmission time may be scheduled accordingly by sending activityreport messages to each of the audio amplifiers to schedule theadditional transmissions.

The low power mode 110 may be used to put music player 201 in a sleepmode during the 96 ms power save period. In this situation, timer 221may need to remain active in order to determine when music player 201 isto “wake up” from the sleep mode and again transmit audio data. Duringthe power save period, audio amplifiers 202 and 203 may disabletransceivers 208 and 213, respectively, and/or other circuitry which isnot needed in order to reduce power at the remote devices.

In another embodiment, music player 201 may have a plurality oftransceivers and antennas sending audio data over a plurality of linksto a plurality of audio amplifiers simultaneously. This embodiment mayutilize IEEE 802.11n at the transport level.

In another embodiment, video data may be transmitted rather than audiodata. The periodicity of the scheduling may differ and the duration ofeach burst may be greater due to the increase in video datarequirements. It is to be understood that a wide variety of otherdevices may use the above described techniques for reducing powerconsumption in other systems where local and remote devices communicateover a wireless link.

FIG. 3 illustrates a method 300 of reducing power consumption inwireless devices according to one embodiment of the invention. At 301, awireless link is established between a local device and a remote device.At 302, a communication schedule is generated. The communicationschedule may be generated based on a profile available to the localdevice, which may be a Bluetooth profile, for example. If BT AMP isbeing used within the local device, a profile may be used to determinethe amount of data required by one or more remote devices for aparticular time period. The data rate capabilities may be used todetermine when the local device may send a burst of data to a remotedevice. At 303, the communication schedule is embedded in a pre-existingmessage of a wireless protocol. The pre-existing message may be aninterference message for example, which may be used by the protocol toadjust communications based on interference patterns but is being usedin this embodiment for sending the communication schedule, for example.This message may also be an activity reporting message, for example. At304, the message is sent from the local device to remote device. Themessage may communicate information to the remote device concerning, forexample, start times, duration, and periodicity of the transmissionsfrom the local device to the remote device. At 305, the local devicecommunicates with the remote device according to the communicationschedule in the message. This may include periodically alternatingbetween transmitting for a time period and not transmitting for a timeperiod. At 306, the local device or remote device, or both, may enter alow power mode by shutting down power to one or more circuit componentsin the respective system. The local device may be utilizing IEEE 802.11gto transport the data at a high data rate such that the remote devicereceives the required amount of data in short bursts, and during theremainder of the communication time period portions of the circuitry ofthe local device and the remote devices may be turned off or configuredin a low quiescent current state. A low power mode may be used to savepower during these time periods.

FIG. 4 illustrates another method of reducing power consumption inwireless devices according to one embodiment of the invention. In thisexample, local and remote devices may communicate using the BT AMPprotocol. For example, devices may connect to each other at close ranges(less than 10 m) and use both Bluetooth and IEEE 802.11 protocols acrossa wireless link. A Bluetooth wireless channel may always be on andoperational and an IEEE 802.11 channel may be used to transfer bulks ofdata at high speed. For instance, there are some applications, such asvideo and music playback, which may require a high speed link to beoperational over a long duration of time. Accordingly, method 400 maystart with a Bluetooth wireless connection being established between alocal device and a remote device at 401. This step may include discoveryof the remote device using the Bluetooth connection, for example. At402, a communication schedule may be generated based on one or moreBluetooth profiles on the local device, for example. The communicationschedule may indicate what time periods during a communication that datais, or is not, transmitted. At 403, the communication schedule is sentfrom the local device to the remote device using the Bluetoothconnection. As mentioned above, the BT-AMP protocol provides a mechanismcalled activity reporting which allows the local device to indicate tothe remote device the pattern of interference it is experiencing. Theinformation in this message allows the remote device to schedule thetransmission of data to the local device around the interference. Asmentioned above, some embodiments of the present invention use thismessage as a communication schedule so that the local and/or remotedevice may reduce power when not in use. At 404, an 802.11 wirelessconnection is established between the local device and the remotedevice. This connection may be used for communicating large amounts ofdata between the local and remote devices at very high speeds asmentioned above, and the communication may be performed according to thecommunication schedule that was shared between the local and remotedevices. At 405, communication between the local device and remotedevice is performed using the 802.11 connection based on thecommunication schedule, which may have been sent in the activity report,for example. During this time, data may be transmitted from the localdevice to the remote device for 20 ms, and then the transmission may behalted for 80 ms, for example, as specified in the communicationschedule. At 406, power is reduced in either the local or remote devices(or both) during time periods specified in the communication schedulewhen data is not transferred, thereby reducing power consumption.

The above description illustrates various embodiments of the presentinvention along with examples of how aspects of the present inventionmay be implemented. The above examples and embodiments should not bedeemed to be the only embodiments, and are presented to illustrate theflexibility and advantages of the present invention as defined by thefollowing claims. Based on the above disclosure and the followingclaims, other arrangements, embodiments, implementations and equivalentswill be evident to those skilled in the art and may be employed withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by theclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A first device comprising: a controller togenerate a communication schedule based on a profile, wherein thecommunication schedule specifies a first duration to transfer databetween the first device and a second device using a wireless protocol;and wherein the profile indicates (i) a start time, (ii) a duration, and(iii) a periodicity of communication between the first device and thesecond device using the wireless protocol; and a transmitter to transmitthe communication schedule via a message from the first device to thesecond device using the wireless protocol, wherein the message is apre-defined message specified by the wireless protocol, and wherein thepre-defined message is dedicated to communicate information aboutinterference present in an operating environment of the first device andthe second device.
 2. The first device of claim 1, wherein thecommunication schedule specifies a second duration in which not totransfer data between the first device and the second device using thewireless protocol.
 3. The first device of claim 2, wherein: the firstdevice and the second device are configured to communicate in accordancewith the communication schedule, and one or both of the first device andthe second device are configured to enter a low power mode during thesecond duration.
 4. The first device of claim 1, wherein the transmitteris to: transmit the message from the first device to the second deviceusing a first wireless protocol, and subsequently communicate with thesecond device in accordance with the communication schedule using asecond wireless protocol, wherein the first wireless protocol or thesecond wireless protocol includes the wireless protocol, and wherein thefirst wireless protocol is different than the second wireless protocol.5. The first device of claim 1, wherein: the transmitter is to transmitaudio data from the first device to the second device based on thecommunication schedule, and the communication schedule allowstransferring sufficient audio data to the second device so that thetransmitter can transmit the audio data by streaming an audio signalwithout interruption.
 6. The first device of claim 1, wherein thecontroller is to perform a portion of communication between the firstdevice and the second device using the wireless protocol.
 7. The firstdevice of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is to transmit bulks of datafrom the first device to the second device at high speed using thewireless protocol.
 8. The first device of claim 1, wherein thecontroller is to adjust communication between the first device and thesecond device based on the interference.
 9. The first device of claim 1,wherein the controller is to schedule communication between the firstdevice and the second device based on the interference.
 10. A methodcomprising: generating, at a first device, a communication schedulebased on a profile, wherein the communication schedule specifies a firstduration to transfer data between the first device and a second deviceusing a wireless protocol; and wherein the profile indicates (i) a starttime, (ii) a duration, and (iii) a periodicity of communication betweenthe first device and the second device using the wireless protocol; andtransmitting the communication schedule via a message from the firstdevice to the second device using the wireless protocol, wherein themessage is a pre-defined message specified by the wireless protocol, andwherein the pre-defined message is dedicated to communicate informationabout interference present in an operating environment of the firstdevice and the second device.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein thecommunication schedule specifies a second duration in which not totransfer data between the first device and the second device using thewireless protocol.
 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:communicating between the first device and the second device accordingto the communication schedule; and configuring one or both of the firstdevice and the second device to enter a low power mode during the secondduration.
 13. The method of claim 10, further comprising: transmittingthe message from the first device to the second device using a firstwireless protocol; and subsequently communicating with the second devicein accordance with the communication schedule using a second wirelessprotocol, wherein the first wireless protocol or the second wirelessprotocol includes the wireless protocol, and wherein the first wirelessprotocol is different than the second wireless protocol.
 14. The methodof claim 10, wherein the communication schedule allows transferringsufficient audio data to the second device, the method furthercomprising: transmitting audio data from the first device to the seconddevice based on the communication schedule by streaming an audio signalwithout interruption.
 15. The method of claim 10, further comprisingperforming a portion of communication between the first device and thesecond device using the wireless protocol.
 16. The method of claim 10,further comprising transmitting bulks of data from the first device tothe second device at high speed using the wireless protocol.
 17. Themethod of claim 10, further comprising adjusting communication betweenthe first device and the second device based on the interference. 18.The method of claim 10, further comprising scheduling communicationbetween the first device and the second device based on theinterference.